EDMONTON - An inmate at the maximum-security Edmonton Institution was shot and seven others stabbed Tuesday in what officials are calling a gang ambush.
About 50 inmates were out for their daily outdoor recreation time when one group was suddenly jumped.
"What we believe to be two rival gangs squared off in the big recreation yard," said Kevin Grabowsky, president of the Prairies region of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
"I think the incident was very much a surprise to one of the gangs."
Several shots were fired from guard positions, said Grabowsky. He declined to say if more than one guard fired, but added that warning shots are usually fired in situations like this.
Eight inmates were taken to hospital, all suffering from stab wounds. One inmate also had bullet wounds.
Grabowsky said some homemade weapons, known as shanks, were recovered.
Capital Health said one patient was in critical condition at the Royal Alexandra hospital, while the others were stable.
Guards had to go into the courtyard to retrieve the injured even as the inmates continued to mill around.
"The inmates were taunting them as they went out there. But they stayed away and we got the injured inmates out," said Grabowsky.
Forty inmates remained in the yard Tuesday evening, refusing to return to their cells until their demands were met. It's not known what they want.
Late Tuesday, the inmates started a bonfire in the yard, and fire crews were on scene.
The rest of the jail was locked down and for hours after the incident, yelling could still be heard in the recreation yard.
"Gangs are a serious issue in Canadian prisons," said Grabowsky. "Our gang problems are pretty serious in Canada, especially inside our prisons. We have a number of different gangs that just don't get along. They're springing up all the time. They're getting smarter and we have to grow along with them."
Of 3,200 federal inmates housed in the Prairie region, Grabowsky said 900 are known gang members.
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